Mary DeMuth, well-known author of Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God, was tired of family dialogue based only on schedules, chores, or bedtime negotiations. Inspired by Jesus’ meaningful interactions with others, Mary shaped this great resource to help parents develop discussion skills, nurture relational talks with kids, and build strong families in the process. To keep the chats going, Mary offers 150 engaging conversation starters to reconnect families at dinner time, while in the car, at bedtime, or anytime that two or more are gathered. What has been the happiest day of your life so far? How did you sense God’s presence this week? If you could give your best friend any gift, what would it be? Why? Creative questions and guidance help families explore faith, compassion, memories, and hopes. Parents, grandparents, teachers, youth leaders, and kids will discover the entertainment and connection that unfolds once the talking begins.

Parents spend a good chunk of time making sure their kids are okay—they’re getting good grades, doing their chores, and doing just enough cleaning that their rooms won’t be condemned if the Board of Health happens to drop by. 21 Ways to Connect with Your Kids offers a straightforward, workable plan to create new avenues of connection between parents and their kids. This handy guide coaches moms and dads to do one simple thing each day for three weeks to connect with their kids. Daily connection ideas include: planning a family fun night telling your child what you like about them developing a character growth chart writing a love note to your child working together on a family project Written in Kathi’s warm and compassionate but thought-provoking tone, this book will motivate parents to incorporate great relationship habits into their daily lives and give them confidence that they can connect with their kids even in the midst of busy schedules.

You've Invested a Lot in Being a Good Mom... Your kids are in school, doing their chores, and cleaning just enough to keep their rooms from being condemned by the Board of Health. But do you want to connect with your children outside your regular routine and find ways to understand, enjoy, and learn more about them? This handy guide offers a straightforward, workable plan to do just that! Including special tips for single moms, blended families, and moms of teens, you will find inspiration to try simple ideas such as planning a family fun night sharing with your child what you like about them surprising them with a special treat writing a love note to your child completing a fun family project Kathi's warm, funny, and thought-provoking expertise will give you the tools and confidence you need to connect with your kids. Small efforts can make a big difference in the life of a child...and in the life of a mom!

"Love, Pray, Listen offers empathy and grounded biblical wisdom to help parents thrive, no matter what path their adult kids take."--PASTOR STEVE STROOPE Wisdom and Hope for Parents of Grown-Ups As a parent, your role changes drastically after your kids grow up. You fear heartache and strained relationships when your children choose difficult--even seemingly wrong--paths. Love, Pray, Listen is the gracious, practical resource you need for navigating the rocky terrain of parenting grown-ups. In this book, mom and author Mary DeMuth answers questions like: · What do I do when my kids make choices that don't align with my values? · How do I keep communication lines open with my grown children? · When do I speak, and when do I listen? · Is it possible to hold on to my joy when parenting is so hard? · How do I avoid the temptation of meddling in my kids' lives? Love, Pray, Listen offers a robust theology for long-term parenting gleaned from the discipleship model Jesus exemplified, one that carefully and thoughtfully applies his way of expressing love. This is your invitation for spiritual growth and a path toward fulfilling relationships with your adult children.

You want to be a loving parent who guides your kids towards a life of happiness and success. But the chaos of parenting life leaves you feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or just vaguely annoyed all the time. (Or maybe it's not so vague.)With this practical guide for busy parents and a bonus printable workbook, you'll know how to: * Stop feeling overwhelmed. Get a handle on the swirling chaos of to-do items and appointments and "should"s in your head.* Set yourself up for a happy day, every day. Find out the ingredients you need in your day in order to become your happiest self.* Catch yourself before you lose your cool. Learn what to do when you lose your patience with a temper-taming toolkit of proven tools to get you back on track.* Heal after the storm. For the days when you do lose your cool, you'll get the exact steps to flush the bad mojo from your body and repair the relationship with your child (or your partner).This book gives you the best science-backed tools that you need as a busy parent to become your happiest self.

Christian parenting is hard work--and it's getting harder. Parents have a deep desire to pass on their faith, but fear that today's increasingly skeptical and hostile world will eventually lead their kids to reject the truth of Christianity. That leaves many parents feeling overwhelmed--uncertain of what they can do to help their children, given the difficulty and extent of the faith challenges they will face. This practical and timely resource gives parents the confidence of knowing what to discuss with their children and how to discuss it in order to facilitate impactful conversations that will form the basis of a lifelong faith. In a friendly, parent-to-parent voice, Natasha Crain identifies 30 specific conversations about God that parents must have with their children, organizing them under the categories of - the existence of God - science and God - the nature of God - believing in God - the difference God makes Chapters are sequenced in a curriculum-oriented way to provide a cumulative learning experience, making this book a flexible resource for use in multiple settings: homes, church classes, youth groups, small groups, private Christian schools, and homeschools. Every chapter has a step-by-step conversation guide with discussion questions and tips, and content is readily adaptable for use with kids of any age (elementary through high school). Endorsements: "My prayer is that God will use this book to both motivate and equip you to help your kids develop convictions about their faith."--From the foreword by Sean McDowell, PhD, Biola University professor, speaker, and author of more than eighteen books, including A New Kind of Apologist "I can't think of a more relevant or more needed book for parents raising kids in today's culture. This book on apologetics will lead parents in critical conversations that will help grow and guide kids to be lifelong followers of Christ."--Kristen Welch, author of Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World "Hey parents: Do you want to reduce the chances that your child will follow the crowd to the point of rejecting Christ and the values and truths you hold so dearly? Then you need to have the conversations that Natasha Crain so brilliantly describes in this book. Prevent heartbreak later by reading and heeding this book now!"--Frank Turek, PhD, president of CrossExamined Ministries and author of I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist and Stealing from God "May this book lead to thousands more Moms and Dads engaging with their kids through an intelligent faith. And may there be tens of thousands more kids who feel loved because the adults in their lives take their questions seriously."--Jeff Myers, PhD, president, Summit Ministries

What's The Deal with . . . ? gives youth workers an invaluable tool for opening up conversation with students about today's biggest theological questions.

University apologist, director, and popular speaker Alex McFarland has spent the last two decades answering questions about Christian worldview and the Bible from children, teens, and parents. In The 21 Toughest Questions Your Kids Will Ask about Christianity, he summarizes questions today’s children and teens are asking about God, the Bible, and the problem of evil. Alex’s experiences have taught him that how adults answer questions about God is as important as, if not more important than, what kids ask. He provides parents with teaching strategies that will help them reach their children intellectually and spiritually. Today’s kids and teens are looking for authenticity, integrity, and straightforward truth. Alex comes alongside parents and gives them tools to effectively answer not only their children’s toughest academic questions but also the questions that plague their hearts.

Inspired by her beloved blog, dinneralovestory.com, Jenny Rosenstrach’s Dinner: A Love Story is many wonderful things: a memoir, a love story, a practical how-to guide for strengthening family bonds by making the most of dinnertime, and a compendium of magnificent, palate-pleasing recipes. Fans of “Pioneer Woman” Ree Drummond, Jessica Seinfeld, Amanda Hesser, Real Simple, and former readers of Cookie magazine will revel in these delectable dishes, and in the unforgettable story of Jenny’s transformation from enthusiastic kitchen novice to family dinnertime doyenne.

Digital technology has changed the parenting territory dramatically in recent years. Suddenly we've been tasked with preparing kids to be safe, happy and successful, not just in the real world, but in the online world as well. Martine Oglethorpe is part of a new breed of parenting educator who nimbly stays abreast of technology changes while keeping one foot firmly grounded in the timeless ways that make families strong.Martine skilfully combines her professional expertise with the lived experience gained by guiding her own children down the pathway to being skilled, savvy digital citizens. In these pages lies the blueprint for parenting kids in the digital age. It shares how to be engaged in the digital lives of our children without being overbearing or burdensome; to know when to tread lightly as a parent and when care and caution need to be taken.